Hawaii is running out of supplies as people try to stockpile weeks of food before a devastating hurricane can make landfall

A map showing Hurricane Lane approach Hawaii, where the edge of the storm had hit some of the islands as of Wednesday night. National Weather Service/Business Insider

Hurricane Lane, now a category-4 storm, is approaching Hawaii.

It is not yet clear whether the eye of the hurricane will make landfall, but officials are warning of devastating effects from it passing close to the islands.

Governor David Ige has urged citizens to shelter with two weeks worth of food and water.

But local media reports say that stores are running out of food and emergency supplies.

FEMA says it's spreading emergency food and water across the islands as Hawaii does not stockpile a large amount of emergency supplies.

Officials say there is not enough room in shelters for everybody on the island.

Heavy flooding could make roads, bridges, and ports unusable, so it may be difficult to bring in supplies when the storm passes.

Stores in Hawaii are running out of food and supplies as Hurricane Lane approaches the islands and people try to prepare.

If the hurricane, now rated as category 4, makes landfall it could bring devastating effects to infrastructure, and ultimately lead to Hawaiians dying.

Governor David Ige asked people to stay in place and stockpile goods. "Families should be prepared to shelter in place and have 14 days of food, water and supplies," he said on Wednesday.

Reports from local media outlets and images posted to social media show that stores on the state's islands are running out of goods. Costco in Maui had run out of generators, flashlights, lanterns, D-batteries, tarps and duct tape by Tuesday afternoon local time, according to Maui News.

Footage posted on Instagram and Twitter showed empty shelves in stores around the state.

Shelters have been opened on many of the islands. However, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there is not enough space and they should only be used as a "last resort," according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Coast Guard anticipates closing Maui County's three commercial ports, Maui News reported. If the ports become damaged or blocked with debris, importing supplies after the storm would be difficult.

The eastern side of Hawaii, known as the Big Island, received eight inches (20 centimeters) of rainfall in 12 hours on Wednesday local time as the storm edged closer to the islands, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

Rainfall of up to 20cm could fall in some areas, leading to warnings of landslides and flooding and the likelihood that roads and bridges will become impassible.

A flash flood warning for the entire state is in place from Wednesday to Friday, according to the Department of Emergency Management. "A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION," the department warned.

Ige signed a Presidential Disaster Declaration from the state, which means it can get financial and physical assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA says it is spreading emergency food and water across the islands as Hawaii does not stockpile a large amount of emergency supplies.

Hurricane Lane is already setting records. On Wednesday it became the second-ever category 5 storm to pass within 350 miles of the island, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. The only other category 5 storm to get this close was Hurricane John in 1994.